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A Lancaster man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges.
Lepoleon Hall, 37, was one of three defendants sentenced this week in Lancaster County’s General Sessions Court, according to Sixth Judicial Circuit Solicitor Randy Newman’s office.
Hall, formerly of the 2300 block of Douglas Heights, pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and unlawful carrying of a pistol.

Police Chief Harlean Carter will retire in less than two weeks, after 26 years at the Lancaster Police Department and six years in the top job.
Her retirement, effective Dec. 12, is for “purely personal reasons,” Carter said Tuesday. She said the decision was difficult, but it was time to "pursue other interests." She declined to elaborate.

A Lancaster auto repair shop was scammed out of $2,000 this week when a caller threatened to cut off the electricity unless the business immediately paid an overdue power bill.

“In this instance, we had a small business where employees were working away and got an unexpected phone call,” said Lancaster Police Capt. Scott Grant. “You know that you’ve got to have power to stay in business, and they get you before you have time to realize what happened.”

A Lancaster man was hit and killed while riding a bicycle in Gastonia, N.C. last Wednesday evening.
Johney Westberry, 47, was struck by a Cadillac Escalade while riding north on U.S. 321 near Salem Road at about 7 p.m. and pronounced dead at the scene, said Sgt. D. Litaker with the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Litaker said the driver did not see the man due to lack of lighting on the bicycle and dark clothing.
The driver stopped at the scene and authorities found no signs of impairment, Litaker said.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office this week received reaccreditations from state and international credentialing agencies.

Sheriff Barry Faile officially received the certificates from the S.C. Law Enforcement Accreditation Council and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) at Monday night’s county council meeting.

State certification is awarded after the agency satisfies 300 standards including an on-site assessment followed by yearly evaluations.

It’s the season of fall festivals, and the one last weekend had familiar sights, sounds and smells – tables full of art and crafts, the aroma of sweet potato pie and hot stew, a full parking lot on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
But upon entering the glass doors of the long house on the Catawba Indian Reservation, it was clear that something was different here.

President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
“Gov. Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country,” Trump said. “She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage.”
Haley, 44, is the first woman and first minority appointed for a cabinet-level position in Trump’s administration.

There were lots of hugs and tributes and a few tears Monday at the Historic Courthouse during a busy three-hour drop-in for retiring Police Chief Harlean Carter.
A steady crowd of well-wishers flowed in and out, with at least 30 people filling the old courtroom the entire time.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with the chief over the years,” said Sheriff Barry Faile, one of many officials in the room. “She’s always been a team player and always had the best interests of the citizens in mind. She will be missed.”